Asphalt-batching plant is a major headache for a nearby business owner

By Marisa Demarco

Steve Finch was riding his bike to work last winter. Wafts of an all-too-familiar smell engulfed him about a block from his office. He felt like he might have to pull over from fear of losing his breakfast.

Oh, yeah? Since when?

By Jim Scarantino

Every Democratic candidate for president on down is “against the war in Iraq.” But we wouldn’t be in Iraq if Democrats hadn’t surrendered Congress’ constitutional power to declare war. Then once the war got going, Democrats pretty much abandoned the peace movement. They’ve given Bush every dime he’s requested to get hundreds of thousands of people killed for no good reason.

Circulation Consternation

The circulation of newspapers across the country is steadily declining. That's not news. What is noteworthy is how rapidly the readership of two of Colorado's biggest daily newspapers may be dropping and what some newly released research could mean for the future of print journalism.

"Sen. Schumer only wants to fund pay, body armor and chow for the troops if he can put conditions on the money so that they cannot do the mission they have been ordered to do."--Rep. Heather Wilson to the Associated Press

Dateline: Australia--Santas in Australia’s largest city have been told not to use St. Nicholas’ traditional “ho, ho, ho” greeting because it may be offensive to women. Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reportedlast Thursday that streetcorner Santa Clauses have been instructed to say “ha, ha, ha” instead. One rather unjolly Santa told the newspaper a recruitment firm wanted him not to use the traditional greeting because it might frighten children and was too close to “ho,” the American slang for prostitute. “Gimme a break,” Julie Gale, who runs the campaign against sexualizing children called Kids Free 2B Kids, told the newspaper. “We’re talking about little kids who do not understand that ‘ho, ho, ho’ has any other connotation, nor should they.” An Australian spokesperson for the U.S.-based Westaff recruiting firm said it was “misleading” to say the company had censored the dialogue of its Santas. The “ho/ha” substitution was being left up to the discretion of the individial Santas.

Those of us who read your letters section, even occasionally, know Don Schrader is near and dear to the editors of this fine weekly alternative newspaper. Don, in all of his topless, practically bottomless, glory entertains and educates us all. From the joys of puncture vine to the joys of being punctured, Mr. Schrader likes doling out his opinion like a dog likes digging holes. And the Alibi quite often allows him the opportunity to stand high and tall. No problem. His prose is clean, his themes, though hyper-left of center, are easy enough to swallow. In short, Don is good for Albuquerque.